Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is one of those unique films. A film that is beautiful watch and incredibly tough to digest. Without a doubt, this movie requires deep thought, but with careful examination, this movie is definitely one that strikes into the deepest of hearts and souls. The film's chronicle of a young monks journey from an innocent youth, to a troubled adolescence to a reborn adulthood is extremely deep, with all kinds of messages that emphasize the importance of spirituality and the dangers of lust and sexual obsession.
The film technically speaking is beautiful to behold. Korean movies generally come out of the same mold. In other words, they are very colorful and the picture of their films are sharp and vibrant. This is especially true in the widely popular Memories of Murder (Or Salnui Cheouk) and Kim's follow-up film, 3-Iron (Or Bin-Jip). The environment of the forest is especially engaging to the eye and it adds to the isolated atmosphere of the film as well as the isolated personalities of the characters. Techinically speaking, Kim does a fabulous job with this film and the beautiful cinematography is one of the many reasons why Kim is slowly becoming one of the more recognized Asian filmmakers of his generation.
However, cinematography can't do it alone. The theme of the film as well as the development of characters is extremely important in a film. Kim goes with a different approach in this film that most filmmakers aren't bold enough to do: he relies on silence and actions rather than dialog (much like his follow-up film, 3-Iron, in which his main male protagonist doesn't say one word). It sounds eccentric, but the characters do show their personalities well and the theme of the film is also carried out in a way that words could never do. While this further shows Kim's greatness, a great deal of credit goes to the actors as well. Their excellent performances with such a limited script is commendable and a premiere example of a new kind of art form that is developing in film during this century.
Without a doubt, film purists and art-house film lovers will adore this film, but overall, anyone who has an open mind should feel at home with this film. Granted, like his other film, 3-Iron, this movie is not the kind of film that you can sit back with your friends and laugh away with a tub of popcorn. Instead it is a serious film that displays that film is art and a brand of literature, and like those two genres this movie should be studied and analyzed in order to get the most out of this film. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is a pensive film, but for those who put the time in analyzing this film will be rewarded with a message and work of art that is like no other. Kim's latest film, 3-Iron was a study of love and relationships. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is a study of the growth, fall and rebirth of life.
Final Analysis: Excellent! Highly Recommended!
The film technically speaking is beautiful to behold. Korean movies generally come out of the same mold. In other words, they are very colorful and the picture of their films are sharp and vibrant. This is especially true in the widely popular Memories of Murder (Or Salnui Cheouk) and Kim's follow-up film, 3-Iron (Or Bin-Jip). The environment of the forest is especially engaging to the eye and it adds to the isolated atmosphere of the film as well as the isolated personalities of the characters. Techinically speaking, Kim does a fabulous job with this film and the beautiful cinematography is one of the many reasons why Kim is slowly becoming one of the more recognized Asian filmmakers of his generation.
However, cinematography can't do it alone. The theme of the film as well as the development of characters is extremely important in a film. Kim goes with a different approach in this film that most filmmakers aren't bold enough to do: he relies on silence and actions rather than dialog (much like his follow-up film, 3-Iron, in which his main male protagonist doesn't say one word). It sounds eccentric, but the characters do show their personalities well and the theme of the film is also carried out in a way that words could never do. While this further shows Kim's greatness, a great deal of credit goes to the actors as well. Their excellent performances with such a limited script is commendable and a premiere example of a new kind of art form that is developing in film during this century.
Without a doubt, film purists and art-house film lovers will adore this film, but overall, anyone who has an open mind should feel at home with this film. Granted, like his other film, 3-Iron, this movie is not the kind of film that you can sit back with your friends and laugh away with a tub of popcorn. Instead it is a serious film that displays that film is art and a brand of literature, and like those two genres this movie should be studied and analyzed in order to get the most out of this film. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is a pensive film, but for those who put the time in analyzing this film will be rewarded with a message and work of art that is like no other. Kim's latest film, 3-Iron was a study of love and relationships. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring is a study of the growth, fall and rebirth of life.
Final Analysis: Excellent! Highly Recommended!